Container closure structure



Feb. 15, 1966 G. K. F. HEXEL CONTAINER CLOSURE STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 INVENTOR GUNTER KARL'PmEomcu HEXEL BY V 5; 44 WuORNEY5 Feb. 15, 1966 e. K. F. HEXEL CONTAINER CLOSURE STRUCTURE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8 1963 IF: G. l0

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United States Patent 0 3,235,121 QUNTAINER CLGSURE STRUCTURE GiintcrKari Friedrich Heriel, Braunschweig, Germany, assiguor to J. A.Schmalbach Alrtieugesellschaft, Braum sehweig, Germany, a corporation ofGermany Filed (let. 8, 1%3, Ser. No. 315,124 Claims priority,application Germany, Oct. 19, 1%2, Sch 32,3ll9 8 Claims. (Cl. 220-47)The present invention has for an object the provision of a novel can orcantainer and a lid with a ring of rubber or resin disposed between thestep-edge of the lid and the beaded edge of the can and which servessimultaneously to seal and attach the lid, which ring may be pulled out,if one wishes to open the can, by aid of a tongue, said pulling outoccurring through an opening or slit which is narrow in relation to thecross section of the ring and located between the can and the lid.

Cans of this general type are known in the prior art, but they have notbeen entirely satisfactory because even in those cases in which a lid ofmetal would not be needed, it has been necessary to employ a metal lid,because in the process of attaching the lid the edge of the lid must beslightly flanged 0r beaded.

The present invention proposes to solve the problems and setbacksencountered in the mentioned known cans, and provide a novel arrangementof parts such that in the manufacture of the lids and of the can bodiesone may use any kind of material, and the choice of such material simplyis dictated by the intended contents of the cans, and furthermore theparticular general shape of the can body will not affect in any wayeilicient closing of the can.

The mentioned problems attending manufacture and use of previously knowncans have been solved by provision of novel can structure according tothe invention including the sealing and attaching ring feature, the ringlying between a stiiiening corrugation of the flanged edge of the can,which corrugation has approximately a C-shaped cross section, or betwenthe lid ring which is connected to the can, and one step of the lid-edgewhich is curved in the direction opposite to the stiffening corrugation.which lid edge forms part of the press in-lid or the inverted lid, anopening-slit or opening always being left in the height of the smoothportion of the lid in such manner that the greatest diameter of the lidedge is never greater than the diameter of the edge of the opening, andthere are provided contacting surfaces at the edge of the opening and atthe lid edge, which collaborate with each other for the purpose ofcentering and for the placing of said press-in-lid or in verted lid,which contacting surfaces have been prepared preferably by rolling,beading or corrugating.

The invention provides furthermore that this new type of can is equippedwith a sealing and lid attaching ring which is applied in the liquid orplastic state, hardened after such application.

By shaping this novel can in the manner stated not only are the setbacksof the previously known cans avoided, but there are provided new andnovel cans having completely new properties. The new cans are filledjust like the cans of prior art. Thereafter the lids, either of thepress-in or inverted types are properly pressed into the can or areforcefully put into the proper inverted position, whereby thecollaborating contacting surfaces at the edge of the opening of a givencan and at the stepe-dge of the cooperating lid will assure that the lidreaches the desired position, by reason of the collaboration of saidsurfaces. In the final sealing, the material from which the sealing andattaching ring is formed, is applied in the liquid or plastic state intothe ice interstitial space, which is formed, both at the pressed-in andthe inverted lids, between the C-shaped corrugation at the edge of theopening of the cans and the portion of the step-edge of the lid which iscurved in the opposite direction. The liquid or plastic mass is made toflow, or is pressed, into this interstitial space across the smallopening slit which is located in the height of the smooth portion of thelid. Once the mass applied to the interstitial space has hardened, thecans are closed and sealed, and no other operational step in which a lidor any other part must undergo a deformation is necessary, and there isno occasion for the rings to come under any kind of mechanical stress orstrain which might result in damage or destruction of the rings. Thismeans that one operates under conditions which render almost impossiblethe provision of leaky cans, and furthermore provision is made forclosing the cans at operational speeds previously unknown in the use ofany cans of comparable type in the known art.

Once one of these new cans has been opened by pulling out the sealingring, then by pressing the lid in again, or, respectively, by againpressing it on in the inverted position, one may create anew a practicalsealing of the can. This is impossible in the use of any can presentlyknown in the prior art, because in the case of such known cans once onehas torn the zipper, the metal strip or the like, the lids can be placedupon them only loosely, and then there is always the risk that the lidswill drop off at the slightest provocation. Thus, as far as the consumeris concerned, these new cans otter great advantages, in uses wherein thecontent of a can is to be removed portion by portion.

According to another feature of the invention the collaboratingcontacting surfaces at the edge of the opening of the can and at thestep-edge of the lid may be constructed according to the principle of asnap-on closure. This construction of the new type of can will beespecially advantageous when the can contest is to be used in smallportions, and when the can is to be opened and closed rather frequently.

Another feature of the invention resides in providing in the fiat,smooth portion of the lid a recess for the formation and theaccommodation of the tongue of the ring. By shaping the can in thismanner the tongue of the ring is shaped properly when the lid sealingand attaching mass flows into this space wherein the ring is receivedand shaped. It is suitable when doing this to coat the tongue extensionreceiving recess in the flat portion of the lid with a repellingcoating, such as talcum or the like, so as to avoid sticking of thetongue to the lid in such manner as to prevent the intended lifting ofthe tongue preparatory to unsealing and opening of the can.

The stated arrangement of the tongue of the ring also provides theadvantage that the tongue will not protrude beyond the outer outlines ofthe can. Thus the can is protected during storage, transportation or thelike, against damage and unintentional opening.

This new type of placing of the tongue leads furthermore to theadvantage that the cans can he piled up just like ordinary cans, andthat during such piling no special precautions against displacement ofthe tongues have to be undertaken.

According to another feature of the invention the lid is formed in twopieces, a center piece fitting within and sealed in and attached to aring-like body according to the invention, said ring-like body, with theattached and sealed in center piece, being attached to or subject toattachment to the can body by conventional seaming or heading practices.The center piece and the surrounding ring-like body have cooperativelyengaging supporting wall surfaces, and are shaped to provide betweenthem the recessing in which to receive the scaling mass which serves toseal the center piece within the ring-like body and to attach the centerpiece to the rin -like body before removal or stripping out of the mass.By thus practicing the invention it becomes possible to impart to thecan or container any desired shape. It becomes possible to provide onelid unit from a center lid piece and the ring when one lets the sealingmass flow into the interstitial space, and once the mass has hardened,this composite lid unit can be connected to the body of the can justlike a normal conventional lid. Therefore, installations and devicespresently known in the art and conventionally used in closing containersby an act of flanging or heading, may be employed just as they werebefore, and the only change occurring is that one no longer employs thelids known to the prior art, but rather the herein disclosed new lidunits.

The new type of construction of the cans according to the invention isnot limited to cans formed of sheet metals, but may be used also incontainers formed of other materials such as glass, ceramic masses,resins or the like in just the same way.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly. understood byreference to the following detailed description, the appended claims andthe several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating one embodiment of theinvention, the can and lid being shown assembled prior to scaling.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the condition afterthe filling in of the lid sealing and attaching mass.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 33 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the sealed containerof FIGURE 2, the section being taken on the line l4 on FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 55 on FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 6 and 7 are views similar to FIGURES 4 and 5 but showing amodified form of the invention wherein the cooperating supportingsurfaces on the lid and can are shaped to provide a closure of thesnap-on type.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 and showing another modificationof the invention wherein the can body is offset outwardly at its openmouth so as to provide a shoulder on which the lid can rest and alsorecessing in which to receive the lid sealing and attaching mass.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical cross section showing anotherembodiment of the invention wherein the lid is a composite structuremade up of a central closure portion and a surrounding lid-ring, thelid-ring and the central closure portion having cooperating, mutuallyengageable supporting surfaces and also cooperating recessing wherein toreceive the mass of material which attaches the central closure portionto the lid ring and seals the same therein.

FIGURE 10 is a View similar to FIGURE 6 and showing still anothermodification of the invention embodying a lid-ring and a lid of invertedtype sealed within and attached to the lid-ring.

FIGURES 1 through 5 show a can body It and a lid 2. Instead of flangingor beading usually provided in cans of prior art, for attaching a lid,the upper end of the herein disclosed can body is equipped with acorrugated indent or reinforcing wall 3 which protrudes into the can andis tapered downwardly and inwardly as shown. The reinforcing wall formsinside the can a contacting or centering surface for the cooperatingcorrespondingly tapered counter surface 4 of the lid 2, which surface 4is located at the stepped edge or peripheral extremity of the lid. Abovethe corrugated reinforcing wall 3 the body of the can runs out into acorrugation or head 5, which protrudes towards the outside, or in otherwords opens inward, and is C-shaped in radial cross section. When thelid 2 is pressed into the closing position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4,then opposite the corrugation will be located a step 6 of oppositecurvature, at the periphery of the step of the lid. The corrugation 5and the step 6 circumscribc a hollow space for the accommodation of alid sealing and attaching ring 7 which includes a radially inwardlyprojecting tongue 8, so that one may grasp the tongue and pull out thering 7 across the opening slit 9 between the opening edge of the can andthe lid. The tongue 3 is located in a deep recess It formed in the fiatportion of the lid, and this recess, just as the hollow space, servetogether as a mold, so to speak, for the formation of the ring '7 andthe tongue 8, whenever the material from which the ring is formed isfilled-in in the liquid or the plastic state. The edge of the opening ofthe can is dimensioned so that one may I..- move the lid without anytrouble once the ring 7 has been pulled out of or stripped from thehollow space in which it was molded and served as a sealing andattaching means.

By reason of the shaping of the C-shaped reinforcement 5 and the step da ring 7 is formed as soon as the liquid or plastic mass flows into thehollow receiving space, which ring is more or less annular. This ringwill retain the lid strongly in its position and will simultaneouslyform a tight seal upon the can.

In FIGURES 6 and 7 there is shown a can which is distinguished over theone shown in FIGURES 1 to 5 in that it not only can be closed and openedrepeatedly, but this repeated opening and closing can be accomplishedwith a snap action. In order to bring this about the corrugatedreinforcement 33 at the body of the can I and the lid step d at the edgeof the lid 2 are shaped in a curved manner, so that they cooperate witheach other in the manner of a snap closure.

The embodiment of the novel can shown in FIGURE 8, excels by reason ofits extreme simplicity. The corrugated reinforcing which in thepreviously described cans protrudes towards the inside and forms thecontacting surface for the centering of the lid, is replaced by theshoulder 11, which is created by reshaping the reinforcing 12 whichprotrudes towards the outside. This reinforcing starts right from thebody l of the can and forms one upper portion of the can body which hasa widened diameter. The lid 2 is shaped at 13 to rest on the shoulderIll and is stopped at 14 to cooperate with the enlargement 12 inproviding a molding chamber in which to receive the sealing andattaching ring 15.

In FIGURE 9 a can is shown which is equipped with a composite lidincluding a lid-ring I, which serves to accommodate an insertion lid orcenter piece 2. The lid ring I? is attached to the body I of the can byaid of a double hammered down edge, known in the prior art as a doubleseam. This embodiment is suitable in large diameter cans or with oval orpolygonal cross sections. The lid ring 1 carries at the side which facesthe lid 2 a reinforcing corrugation ll? which has a cross sectionapproximately like the letter C, and serves to accommodate the ring 7and one also notices there a contacting surface 3 which will collaboratewith the correspondingly shaped supporting or counter-surface 4 at thestep-edge of the lid 2 The shape of these two contacting surfaces may beas shown in FIGURE 3 or as in FIGURE 6, depending upon the intendedpurposes.

In FIGURE 10 is shown still another embodiment of the invention whereinthe can is equipped with a lid-ring 18 for the accommodation of aninverted lid 2 This lid-ring 18, just like the lid-ring I is attached atthe beaded edge of the body I of the can by aid of a double hammereddown edge or double seam 19. The Cshaped reinforcing in this embodimentis located outwardly of the body of the can. The collaboratingcontacting surfaces 3 and 4 are provided in this case at the suitableopposing portion of the lid ring and the stepped edge of the lid 2 asshown and provision is made for receiving the sealing and attaching ringat 7 It will be apparent from the foregoing, and by reference to thedrawings that the lid and body of the container structure have portionsmutually engageable as at 3, 4 in FIGURES 1, 3, 4 and 5, 3 4 in FIGURES6 and 7, 11, 13 as in FIGURE 8, 3, 4 as in FIGURE 9,

and as at 3 i in FIGURE to suport the lid in body closing position.These will be recognized as optional taper-flare portions or snap inreclosure providing portions.

The lid and body have annularly opposing recess portions such as 5, 6 ofFIGURES 1, 3, 4 and 5 and like portions of FIGURES 6 and 7, 12, 14 ofFIGURE 8 and within the portions 17 and 5 of FIGURES 9 and 10,respectively, between which to provide the annular channel wherein theseal-ing ring 7, or '7 is molded and retained as a lid attaching key. Itwill be noted that the sealing ring engages over and seals the slitprovided by cooperative engagement of the previously mentioned mutuallyengageable lid and body portions.

The sealing and keying ring is formed of rubbery material which isdeformable to an extent for permitting a pulling out of the ring, in asingle piece and through the restricted outlet opening upwardly out ofthe channel, the channel and the key holding restriction being providedby the cooperative shaping of the beforementioned annularly opposingrecessing of the container body and lid. It is to be understood that inthe sealing of the container closure there are three steps: Initially,to position the lid in and on its supporting means, thereby to close thecontainer and provide the sealing and attaching ring receiving channel.The second step is to fill the channel or groove with the rubber orresin in the form of a liquid mass, or in other words to flow in thering mass. Then the ring mass is caused to harden or set to its finalshape retaining but deformable consistency, sealing the slit between thecooperatively engaging body and lid support portions and forming thedesired lid attaching key within the receiving channel. In order toovercome any objectionable tendency for the ring to adhere in thechannel or its extension into the lid recess 10, talc or any otherresist may be employed, the same being applied wherever any stickingtendency may be most objectionable, as in the lid recess.

While examples of preferred and modified embodiments of the inventionare disclosed herein, it is to be understood that changes andmodifications of the disclosed embodiments may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A container structure comprising a body and a lid, said lid beingstepped and said body having a reinforcing corrugation which isgenerally C shaped in cross section and opposed to the lid step toprovide therewith a receiving channel, said lid fitting within the bodyat the juncture of the C" shaped corrugation by way of cooperatingtaper-flare portions on the lid and body to form a support for the lidand defining an annular slit, a ring of rubbery material molded in thechannel and sealing over the slit, and the upper extremity of thecorrugation overlying the ring to hold it in place as a slit sealing andlid attaching key.

2. A container structure comprising a body and a lid, said lid beingstepped and said body having a reinforcing corrugation which isgenerally C shaped in cross section and opposed to the lid step toprovide therewith a receiving channel, said C shaped corrugation mergingwith a reversed corrugation which is generally C shaped incross-section, said reversed corrugation forming a shoulder forreceiving said lid, said lid step being curved as to mate with saidreversed corrugation, said lid fitting within the body in the form of asnap in reclosure at the juncture of the reversed corrugation to form asupport for the lid and defining an annular slit, a ring of rubberymaterial molded in the channel and sealing over the slit, and the upperextremity of the reinforcing corrugation overlying the ring to hold itin place as a slit sealing and lid attaching key.

3. A container structure comprising a body and a lid, said lid beingstepped and said body having a reinforcing corrugation which isgenerally C shaped in cross section and opposed to the lid step toprovide therewith a receiving channel, said receiving channel beingformed in part in a ring which is attached to the upper end extremity ofthe body and is offset outwardly from said body, said lid fitting withinthe body at the juncture of the C shaped corrugation to form a supportfor the lid and defining an annular slit, a ring of rubbery materialmolded in the channel and sealing over the slit, and the upper extremityof the corrugation overlying the ring to hold it in place as a slitsealing and lid attaching key.

4. A container structure comprising a body and a lid, said lid beingstepped and said body having a reinforcing corrugation which isgenerally C shaped in cross section and opposed to the lid step toprovide therewith a receiving channel, said lid fitting within the bodyat the juncture of the C shaped corrugation to form a support for thelid and defining an annular slit, a ring of rubbery material in thechannel 'and sealing over the slit, and the upper extremity of thecorrugation overlying the ring to hold it in place as a slit sealing andlid attaching key, wherein said sealing and keying ring being molded inthe channel and the lid having a recess therein into which the moldedring extends to provide a pull tongue by which the ring can be pulledfrom the channel to unseal the container.

5 A container structure comprising a body and a lid, said lid beingstepped and said body having a reinforcing corrugation which isgenerally C shaped in cross section and opposed to the lid step toprovide therewith a receiving channel, said lid fitting within the bodyat the juncture of the C shaped corrugation to form a support for thelid and defining an annular slit, a ring of rubbery material in thechannel and sealing over the slit, and the upper extremity of thecorrugation overlying the ring to hold it in place as a slit sealing andlid attaching key, said sealing and keying ring being molded in thechannel and the lid having a recess therein into which the molded ringextends to provide a pull tongue by which the ring can be pulled fromthe channel to unseal the container, and also including in the pulltongue receiving recess of the lid 21 resist effective to keep thetongue free in its receiving recess.

6. A container structure comprising a body and a lid, said lid beingstepped and said body having a reinforcing corrugation which isgenerally C shaped in cross section and opposed to the lid step toprovide therewith a receiving channel, said lid fitting within the bodyat the juncture of the C shaped corrugation by way of cooperatingtaper-flare portions on the lid and body to form a support for the lidand defining an annular slit, a ring of rubbery material molded in thechannel and sealing over the slit, the upper extremity of thecorrugation overlying the ring to hold it in place as a slit sealing andlid attaching key, and the upper extremities of the corrugation, the lidand the rubbery material lying in substantially the same plane andexhibiting a smooth surface for permitting stacking of successivecontainers.

7. A container structure comprising a body and a lid, said lid beingstepped and said body having a reinforcing corrugation which isgenerally C shaped in cross section and opposed to the lid step toprovide therewith a receiving channel, said C shaped corrugation mergingwith a reversed corrugation which is generally C shaped incross-section, said reversed corrugation forming a shoulder forreceiving said lid, said lid step being curved as to mate with saidreversed corrugation, said lid fitting Within the body in the form of asnap-in reclosure at the juncture of the reversed corrugation to form asup-port for the lid and defining an annular slit, a ring of rubberymaterial molded in the channel and sealing over the slit,

the upper extremity of'th'e corrugation overlying the ring to hold it inplace as a slit sealing and lid attaching key, and the upper extremitiesof the corrugation, the lid and the rubbery material lying insubstantially the same plane and exhibiting a smooth surface forpermitting stacking of successive containers.

8. A container structure comprising a body and a lid, said lid beingstepped and said body having a reinforcing corrugation which isgenerally C shaped in cross section and opposed to the lid step to.provide therewith a receiving channel, said receiving channel beingformed in part in a ring which is attached to the upper end extremity ofthe body, said lid fitting within the body at the juncture of the Cshaped corrugation to form a support for the lid and defining an annularslit, a ring of rubbery material molded in the channel and sealing overthe slit, the upper extremity of the corrugation overlying the ring tohold it in place as a slit sealing and lid attaching key and the upperextremities of the corrugation, the lid and the rubbery material lyingin substantially the same plane and exhibiting a smooth surface forpermitting stacking of successive containers.

Refierences (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 986,449 3/1911Ford. 1,303,175 5/1919 Draper 22055 2,350,651 6/1944 Taubert et al.22055 2,861,712 11/1958 Bermingharn 220-47 3,072,831 1/1963 Kurland etal. 215-430 FOREIGN PATENTS 922,691 1/ 1955 Germany.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

1. A CONTAINER STRUCTURE COMPRISING A BODY AND A LID, SAID LID BEINGSTEPPED AND SAID BODY HAVING A REINFORCING CORRUGATION WHICH ISGENERALLY "C" SHAPED IN CROSS SECTION AND OPPOSED TO THE LID STEP TOPROVIDE THEREWITH A RECEIVING CHANNEL, SAID LID STEP TO PROVIDETHEREWITH THE JUNCTURE OF THE "C" SHAPED CORRUGATION BY WAY OFCOOPERATING TAPER-FLARE PORTIONS ON THE LID AND BODY TO FORM A SUPPORTFOR THE LID AND DEFINING AN ANNULAR SLIT, A RING OF RUBBERY MATERIALMOLDED IN THE CHANNEL AND SEALING OVER THE SLIT, AND THE UPPER EXTREMITYOF THE CORRUGATION OVERLYING THE RING TO HOLD IT IN PLACE AS A SLITSEALING AND LID ATTACHING KEY.